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October 20, 2008

Abbas Criticizes Israeli Response to Attack on Palestinian Farmers
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Palestinian president says Israel's failure to protect the harvest means
it is not serious about a peace deal 
Israeli settlers attack a Palestinian photographer during an olive
harvest in the occupied West Bank, 18 Oct 2008 (picture released by
Active Stills)Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has accused Israel of
not protecting Palestinian olive farmers against recent attacks by
Jewish settlers. Palestinian newspapers published Mr. Abbas's comments
Monday after an attack over the weekend on two news photographers and a
British activist helping farmers with the annual olive harvest. The
Palestinian leader said Israel's failure to protect the harvest means it
is not serious about a peace deal. Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak
has responded by condemning the harassment of the farmers and called the
attackers "hooligans." But he also dismissed Abbas' claims and said the
military is doing its best to protect the farmers. Medic attends a
Palestinian olive farmer after Jewish settlers from a nearby settlement
in the northern West Bank allegedly attacked him, 11 Oct 2008.Thousands
of !
 Palestinians participate in the annual olive harvest, which is critical
to their economy. Meanwhile, Israeli President Shimon Peres will meet
with his Egyptian counterpart this week to focus on promoting peace
between Israel and its Arab neighbors, as well as the impact of the
global financial crisis. Egypt has been brokering a possible prisoner
exchange between Israel and Gaza's Hamas leaders. Hamas is holding an
Israeli soldier kidnapped two years ago in southern Israel.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.


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